HEADLINES | 6
SPECIAL SECTION | 16
JTO CHANGES LEADERSHIP
ISRAEL AT 75 Friends of Israel Defense Forces’ new VP of Western region plans to re-engage Arizona’s Jewish community
After two decades, Linda Zell will pass the executive director baton to Janet Silva in July
1948
YEARS
2023
APRIL 21, 2023 | NISAN 30, 5783 | VOLUME 75, NUMBER 16
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The sport taking the country — and Sarah Kader, face of ADL Arizona, is the VOSJCC — by storm bringing the fight O to all the ‘isms’ MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
A
ntisemitic vandalism in Arizona remained worryingly high last year, with 53 reported antisemitic incidents across the state, nearly double the amount from 2018, 2019 and 2020 and roughly the same as 2021. That number comes from the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) annual audit of antisemitic incidents across the nation, which was released last month. Oren Segal, vice president of ADL’s Center on Extremism, came to town soon after the report’s release and spoke about the methods his team uses to counter extremism and protect the community. Segal pointed to high-tech tools and key relationships with law enforcement and other agencies that he and his colleagues utilize daily to suss out and combat dangerous players. But for anyone in Arizona unlucky enough to encounter antisemitism, it isn’t necessary to have Segal on speed dial. As he pointed out, there is one very important and very local resource for Arizonans: Sarah Kader. In late October, Kader became ADL Arizona’s community manager — the person on the ground who can bring the agency’s resources to those who need them. After not having a local ADL presence for some time, Kader initially spent her time introducing herself and her role to Jewish, interfaith and minority advocacy organizations, Jewish individuals and local law enforcement. “It’s important that they know I’m here to respond to antisemitic incidents, which unfortunately we get reports of regularly and in a wide
n Monday through Saturday mornings, the indoor basketball courts at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center (VOSJCC) in Scottsdale are transformed into four pickleball courts. “The VOSJCC offers a drop-in pickleball league for members six days a week,” said Harriet Colan, office manager at the VOSJCC. She also handles the registration when the VOSJCC holds pickleball workshops and clinics throughout the year, which consistently sell out. Colan has been playing since the program arrived in 2015. “It was unheard of at the time; I call it ‘tennis for old people.’” she said. “It allows an older demographic to continue to be physically challenged. It’s not as hard on your body and there’s no running about. The older the player, the better they are. They play more effectively and strategically.’” Pickleball is a paddle sport invented in the 1960s that all ages and all skill levels can play. It can be played indoors or outside and takes place on a surface the size of a badminton court using a perforated plastic ball (like a Wiffle ball) and small paddles. The net is set at 34 inches high and each game is played to a score of 11 points. According to the 2021 Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s Topline Participation Report, pickleball’s fiveyear average annual growth rate is 11%. If you take just the single year from 2019 to 2020, the growth is even more at Sara Schneider, left, and Rachel Scheinerman show off their silver 21.3%, putting the total number of players in America at an medals won at the PPA Desert Ridge Open. COURTESY OF SARA SCHNEIDER estimated 4.2 million. SEE PICKLEBALL PAGE 3
Landscape lasagna A method to build the soil in your garden and compost at the same time. See page 15. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK
SEE KADER PAGE 2
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